John Bubenheim Bayard and the Pennsylvania Board of War
Updated 8/29/21
John Bubenheim Bayard was a merchant in Pennsylvania who supported the War of Independence in a variety of ways.
Overseeing the Revolution
John Bubenheim Bayard was a Philadelphia merchant who became a member of that city's Sons of Liberty as early as 1766.
As the American Revolution neared, Bayard was elected to the Colonial Assembly for the colony.
He consulted on the State’s first constitution and spent time as Speaker of the House.
Privateer
During the war, Bayard sponsored a privateer ship which preformed raids on the British.
John’s company, Hedge & Bayard, was one of the few chosen to supply the Continental Army.
While their profiting from the Revolution may sound greedy, keep in mind that very few businessmen (other than Robert Morris) could afford to invest such a large amount of money without the promise of repayment.
Colonel Bayard
Not satisfied by simply funding and clothing the soldiers, John Bayard decided to take the field.
Having been named a Colonel in the Pennsylvania Militia, Bayard brought his men to New Jersey.
Bayard served so valiantly in Princeton that he was commended by General Washington himself.
After returning from to Philadelphia, Bayard was named Chairman of the State’s Board of War.
This promotion meant he also received a position on Executive Council which acted as the Governors cabinet. In essence, Bayard was Pennsylvania’s Secretary of War.
Aftermath
When the American Revolution came to it’s conclusion, John Bayard realized he had incurred large debts while supporting his country. Over the next few years, he sold land to repair his credit.
During this time, Pennsylvania sent him as a delegate to the Confederation Congress in New York.
Eventually, Bayard retired to New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The people in that town, grateful for his presence, elected him Mayor. After his term, he spent the rest of his life as a county judge.
This article is only part of my regular publications, so…
If you want to keep up with all the Founders, make sure you subscribe to my daily newsletter here:
Do you enjoy these articles about Forgotten Founders?
Support Founder of the Day buy picking up one of these new shirts!
It is just one of a handful of products I’ve begun offering recently.
The main source for this article is a bio on Bayard written in 1885 which can be found here.
